ACGME Honors Feinberg Professor with Teaching Award

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Feinberg School of Medicine Professor Receives 2010 Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Award

Diane Wayne, MD

Diane Wayne, MD, associate professor of medicine, program director internal medicine residency, and vice-chair of education in the Feinberg School of Medicine Department of Medicine.

Diane Wayne, MD, associate professor of medicine, program director internal medicine residency, and vice-chair of education in the Feinberg School of Medicine Department of Medicine, was selected to receive the 2010 Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Award from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Wayne is the first professor from Northwestern to win this award and one of 10 award recipients among a national pool of program directors from all specialties.

The annual award recognizes program directors from ACGME-accredited residency or fellowship programs that demonstrate excellent leadership and mentorship practices; teach excellent patient care and safety practices; encourage and achieve program development and innovation; and are strong role models, promoting ethics of reflection and humanism. The winners are also chosen based on their “courage to teach” — their ability to bring intellect and heart to the dual vocations of being a teacher and a physician.

“It is a huge honor to be recognized,” Wayne said. “This award is a direct reflection of the priorities of the leadership of Feinberg and the Department of Medicine. I am proud of the state of our residency program. We are training a diverse group of committed physicians who care deeply about patients, contribute to research and teaching, and aspire to leadership roles in medicine.”

Wayne’s nomination was supported by numerous letters from her colleagues, including one from Aashish Didwania, MD, assistant professor of medicine and associate program director of internal medicine in the Feinberg School of Medicine Department of Medicine. Didwania, a Northwestern residency program alumnus and one of Wayne’s former residents, incorporated comments made by Wayne’s trainees, as well as endorsements from other alumni, in his letter of support.

Diane Wayne, MD, Professor
Diane Wayne (left) instructing trainees on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

“The trait that makes Dr. Wayne stand out most is her staunch advocacy for her residents,” Didwania wrote. “The root of this advocacy comes out of a sincere desire to train outstanding physicians and inspire them to be both leaders in medicine and compassionate and honest individuals.”

Wayne will be honored at the ACGME Annual Education Conference in Nashville, Tenn. in March 2010, where she will be presenting a workshop on standard setting for clinical skills assessments. She will also be invited to attend a special physician formation retreat in May 2010.

“My passion is showing that high quality, innovative education can not only produce outstanding doctors but improve the quality of patient care,” Wayne said. “The school’s leadership encouraged me to follow both my academic and administrative pursuits. Northwestern is a place that is set up to help you succeed.”

Wayne is a graduate of Northwestern’s Honors Program in Medical Education (HPME), earning her medical degree from the Northwestern University School of Medicine. She completed her internal medicine residency at University of Chicago Hospitals. Wayne has been the program director in the Department of Medicine since 2001 and has won numerous national awards for research in medical education.